Share This Story!

Hill proves worth in Bengals' win over Colts

With starting running back Giovani Bernard kept out of the Bengals preseason finale on Thursday and three other running backs unable to play due to injury, rookie second-round pick Jeremy Hill got plenty of work in the first half.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill (32) is tackled by the Indianapolis Colts free safety Colt Anderson (32) on the half yard line in the second quarter during their preseason game at Paul Brown Stadium.(Photo: The Enquirer/Gary Landers)

With starting running back Giovani Bernard kept out of the Bengals' preseason finale on Thursday and three other running backs unable to play due to injury, rookie second-round pick Jeremy Hill got plenty of work in the first half, and almost got one touch too many.

Hill carried 15 times for 60 yards and had five receptions for 63 yards in the half, but it was on his final touch of the half – a pass reception near the right sideline with just over a minute left – that he suffered an injury to his right elbow, although he returned to start the second half and carried three more times for 13 yards and added one more reception for seven yards and came in late in the game to carry two more times for 17 yards. That gave him 20 carries for 90 yards and six receptions for 70 yards on the night.

The Bengals, who were without running backs BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Cedric Peerman and Rex Burkhead, didn't need much from Hill or the offense by the time the unit ran its first play of the second half as they got a punt return and an interception return for touchdowns less than two minutes into the second half and pulled away from a 7-0 halftime lead to post a 35-7 victory before a crowd of 42,020 in Paul Brown Stadium.

The 6-foot-1, 238-pound Hill is likely going to share the workload this season with Bernard and showed his ability to run between the tackles while running behind an offensive line that featured only one projected starter – rookie center Russell Bodine.

He also showed a good burst of speed when he took a screen pass from quarterback Jason Campbell and raced 41 yards to the Colts 44 to start the Bengals on the lone scoring drive of the first half. Hill appeared to cap the drive off nine plays later when he was initially ruled to have scored on an eight-yard touchdown run, but following a replay challenge he was ruled down just inches short.

On the very next play, Campbell used a play-action fake, lofted a pass toward rookie tight end Ryan Hewitt, and although the pass was tipped by Colts linebacker Andy Studebaker it wound up going right into Hewitt's arms for a touchdown. That put the Bengals up 7-0 with 4:04 left in the first half.

Campbell started in place of Andy Dalton and played the entire first half, completing 13 of 16 passes for 123 yards and no interceptions. He was 7-for-7 for 68 yards in the second quarter alone.

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Ryan Hewitt (89) reacts after his second quarter touchdown during their preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Paul Brown Stadium. The Enquirer/Gary Landers

Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill (32) is tackled by the Indianapolis Colts free safety Colt Anderson (32) on the half yard line in the second quarter during their preseason game at Paul Brown Stadium. The Enquirer/Gary Landers

Establishing their running game in the first series the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jason Campbell (17) hands off to running back Jeremy Hill (32) during their preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Paul Brown Stadium. The Enquirer/Gary Landers

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Margus Hunt (99) sacks the Indianapolis Colts quarterback Chandler Harnish (5) in the second quarter during their preseason game at Paul Brown Stadium. The Enquirer/Gary Landers

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Chandler Harnish (5) scrambles from the pocket past the Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Margus Hunt (99) in the second quarter during their preseason game at Paul Brown Stadium. The Enquirer/Gary Landers

Indianapolis Colts running back Zurlon Tipton (37) runs the ball past the Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Marquis Flowers (53) in the second quarter during their preseason game at Paul Brown Stadium. The Enquirer/Gary Landers

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jason Campbell (17) works with offensive coordinator Hue Jackson in the second quarter during their preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Paul Brown Stadium. The Enquirer/Gary Landers

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Margus Hunt (99) sacks the Indianapolis Colts quarterback Chandler Harnish (5) in the second quarter during their preseason game at Paul Brown Stadium. The Enquirer/Gary Landers

Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill (32) looks for the hole as he runs the ball in the first quarter against the Indianapolis Colts during their preseason game at Paul Brown Stadium. The Enquirer/Gary Landers

Cincinnati Bengals middle linebacker Rey Maualuga (58) and defensive tackle Domata Peko (94) head out on to the field for their preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Paul Brown Stadium. The Enquirer/Gary Landers

The Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) stand on the sideline during their preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Enquirer/Gary Landers

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jason Campbell (17) looks to pass the ball in the first quarter against the Indianapolis Colts during their preseason game at Paul Brown Stadium. The Enquirer/Gary Landers

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher (11) runs the ball after a reception ion the first quarter against the Indianapolis Colts during their preseason game at Paul Brown Stadium. The Enquirer/Gary Landers

Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries:

Tyler Wilson played the entire second half and attempted only five passes, completing three for 73 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown to Cobi Hamilton, who caught a short out route on the left sideline, turned and raced the final 45 yards to put the Bengals up 28-0 early in the fourth quarter.

Wilson didn't need to throw much as the Bengals had upped their lead to 21-0 with two non-offensive touchdowns less than two minutes into the second half.

The first came just 90 seconds into the half when they forced the Colts into a three-and-out on the first series of the half and Dane Sanzenbacher returned the ensuing punt 77 yards for a touchdown. Sanzenbacher, who is likely to be the team's slot receiver with Marvin Jones out with a foot injury, didn't play in this past Sunday's preseason game in Arizona due to the NFL's concussion protocol.

On the third play of the next Colts series third-string quarterback Chandler Harnish, who started, went the distance and completed 13 of 24 passes for 102 yards, tried to throw a pass over the middle to Da'Rick Rogers, but veteran safety Danieal Manning jumped in front of it for an interception and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown.

Cincinnati Bengals fans geared up for a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts at Paul Brown Stadium. Ashley Crowder of Anderson and Marshall Howard and Nicolette Keisor of Amelia. David Sorcher

Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries:

The Bengals didn't use a single projected defensive starter in the game, but held the Colts to 186 yards. The Colts had just 63 yards – 49 rushing and 14 net passing – and only four first downs in the first half.

Indianapolis also had just one series in the first three quarters in which it reached Bengals territory.

The Colts did reach the Bengals 10 early in the second quarter, but on fourth-and-2 safety Taylor Mays dropped running back Zurlon Tipton for a 5-yard loss.

Second-year defensive end Margus Hunt led the defense with three quarterback sacks, two in the second half, and a tackle for loss.

Marvin Lewis and Margus Hunt talk about the second-year lineman's three sacks and overall development.
The Enquirer/Paul Dehner Jr.

Indianapolis averted the shutout when Harnish hit Rogers for a 7-yard touchdown with 8:44 remaining.

Rookie James Wilder scored from two yards out with 6:05 left to cap the scoring.